Beth Mooney\u2019s unbeaten half-century helped Australia claim a convincing victory over the West Indies in the first semi-final of the ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup at The Oval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Australian opener ended on 61 not out as the ICC\u2019s number-one ranked nation made light work of the chase, after their spinners had restricted the West Indies in the first innings despite Deandra Dottin’s inspired knock after recovering from a medical incident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s Australia\u2019s 10th win in their last 11 matches against the West Indies, and their sixth in seven ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup meetings, with Molineux\u2019s side set to face either England or South Africa in Sunday\u2019s final at Lord\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia, unchanged from victory over India at Lord\u2019s on Sunday, won the toss and elected to field, with Lucy Hamilton\u2019s first ball driven for four by Hayley Matthews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The West Indies skipper hit further boundaries off Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux but run scoring proved difficult throughout the powerplay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They finished it 35 without loss, before Qiana Joseph, struggling for rhythm, was dropped on the boundary by Georgia Voll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pressure told on Matthews in the ninth over, bowled for 30 attempting a paddle sweep of Georgia Wareham\u2019s first delivery, before Molineux ended Joseph\u2019s difficult innings on 16. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton followed soon after, both dismissed by the impressive Ashleigh Gardner (2\/13) for ducks as the West Indies slipped to 59 for four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinelle Henry made 10 before Annabel Sutherland took a smart catch running round at long-on off Molineux (2\/30). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shemaine Campbelle offered some resistance on her way to 22, before hitting straight to Ellyse Perry off Wareham (2\/17), bringing Deandra Dottin to the crease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 35-year-old prompted concern when she was pictured being carried towards the dressing room by her teammates shortly after the anthems, but she recovered to make a courageous cameo for her side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She combined with Jannillea Glasgow, putting on 42 before the latter was dismissed off the final ball, with the West Indies reaching 125 for seven, Dottin unbeaten on 26. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georgia Voll whacked Chinelle Henry\u2019s fourth ball of the reply for six and crashed consecutive boundaries off the same bowler two overs later as she got the chase off to a flyer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry soon had her revenge, bowling the ICC\u2019s number-one ranked batter for 16 before Hayley Matthews trapped Phoebe Litchfield (4) LBW after review, Australia 43 for two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The West Indies\u2019 only ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup victory over Australia came in the 2016 final, having been beaten by them in three of their six semi-finals, and Mooney was clearly determined to extend that record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She fired Jahzara Claxton\u2019s first over of the tournament for 18 as her side raced to 63 for two at the end of the powerplay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashleigh Gardner chipped in after Ellyse Perry (2) had retired hurt, following a straight six off Afy Fletcher with a four over the covers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mooney\u2019s 29-ball half-century came up in the 11th over, her second of the tournament, and her and Gardner eased their side toward the finish line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gardner finished it with a four, ending 35 not out off 20 balls, as Australia continued their fine ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup semi-final record, their eighth win having reached this stage in all 10 editions of the competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia vs West Indies\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The Oval, London<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n West Indies:<\/strong> 125\/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26 not out; Ashleigh Gardner 2\/13; Georgia Wareham 2\/17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia:<\/strong> 127\/2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 35 not out; Chinelle Henry 1\/20, Hayley Matthews 1\/23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Result:<\/strong>\u00a0Australia win by eight wickets<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beth Mooney\u2019s unbeaten half-century helped Australia claim a convincing victory over the West Indies in the first semi-final<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[69],"class_list":["post-14352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-cricket"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t